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The Spectrum Monitor — September, 2015
1 September 2015 | by 
Stories you’ll find in our August, 2015 issue:
AFN: The Biggest Network You’ve Never Heard or Seen
By Richard Fisher KI6SN
Originally begun as Armed Forces Radio Service (AFRS) in 1942 and intended to provide news and entertainment from “back home” to US service personnel stationed in the war zones of World War II, the American Forces Network (AFN) now provides 12 music, news and sports audio services, seven TV services and a program guide to US bases globally. Over the years, AFN’s mission has evolved along with the technology used to deliver the programming. With headquarters in Riverside, California, Richard Fisher took a tour of AFN facilities that produce programming seen only by those in uniform and discovered close connection between AFN and Hollywood.
Ultra-light Radio: Doing more with Less
By Gary Donnelly KC8IQZ
Many shortwave listeners scoff at low-ticket, shirt-pocket sized, no-frills portable radios as inadequate at best for the job of DXing the AM and HF bands. But, a loyal group of adherents to Ultra-light Radios (ULR) are finding that these insignificant seeming radios deserve space in any listening post. Gary shows us the ins and outs of ULR DXing and how these diminutive receivers can deliver surprising results with and without modifications.
MultiPSK: A Digital Diamond in the Rough
By Robert Gulley AK3Q
There are many digital programs available for amateur and shortwave radio listeners, from individual modes to all-in-one packages, but with MultiPSK, Robert has found a real treasure. He calls this a “diamond in the rough” because, for many folks, the initial configuration and program screens seem, at best, awkward. We have become used to very glamorous graphical user interfaces, with ribbon bars and lots of bells and whistles. By comparison, MultiPSK seems rather barren but, Robert tells us, nothing could be further from the truth!
Outernet: Bringing Free, Global, One-way Internet Content to the World via FTA Satellite
By Kenneth Barbi
Calling itself “Humanity’s Public Library,” Outernet is an ambitious public service project designed to provide free access to information to those not served by extensive Internet infrastructure. To do so, Outernet founder, Syed Karim, has implemented a global data delivery system using existing Ku-band geosynchronous satellites. He says, the concept is a repurposing of existing computer and Free-to-Air (FTA) satellite technology—“a mix between modern day shortwave radio and BitTorrrent from space.”
Summer Radios and Some are Not
By Cory GB Sickles WA3UVV
A few new digital-capable 2-meter/70-cm transceivers have made their debut this summer, but Cory finds that there is more than one way to get into digital voice on amateur radio, including a mash up of various low cost digital devices you might already have around the house. He also makes sense of the alphabet of digital voice modes: DMR, LMR, D-STAR, NXDN, NXREF, WIRES-X and the use of DV Dongles.
Scanning America By Dan Veenaman
Maine’s Statewide MSCommNet
Federal Wavelengths By Chris Parris
Navy Enterprise System in the Pacific Northwest
Utility Planet By Hugh Stegman NV6H
This isn’t your Father’s COTHEN
Digital HF: Intercept and Analyze By Mike Chace-Ortiz AB1TZ/G6DHU
Listening in to US Embassies and Consulates on HF Radio
HF Utility Logs By Mike Chace-Ortiz and Hugh Stegman
Amateur Radio Insights By Kirk Kleinschmidt NT0Z
The Great Equalizer
Radio 101 By Ken Reitz KS4ZR
The $80 E-reader/Ham/SWL Decoder, that comes with a Free Camera
Radio Propagation By Tomas Hood NW7US
Let’s Talk about this Hot Sun
The World of Shortwave Listening By Jeff White, General Manager WRMI
Another One Bites the Dust: International Radio Serbia closes its doors for good, but is shortwave really doomed?
The Shortwave Listener By Fred Waterer
Radio Tirana, Radio Serbia Remembered
Amateur Radio Astronomy By Keith Baker KB1SF/VA3KSF
Yet More Flight Opportunities
The Longwave Zone By Kevin O’Hern Carey WB2QMY
Comings and Goings
Adventures in Radio Restoration By Rich Post KB8TAD
A Classic Pair of Heath Hi-Fi Twins Part 2: The AA-151 Amp
The Broadcast Tower By Doug Smith W9WI
More on WOWO; New FMs and Coax
Antenna Connections By Dan Farber AC0LW
Stealthy Green Jolly Loop: At Last
The Spectrum Monitor is available in PDF format which can be read on any desktop, laptop, iPad®, Kindle® Fire, or other device capable of opening a PDF file. Annual subscription (12 issues, beginning with the January 2015 issue) is $24. Individual monthly issues are available for $3 each.
One Response to “The Spectrum Monitor — September, 2015”
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- Matt W1MST, Managing Editor
My DE32 came in the mail today. According to the foil decal on the bottom left front of the spekaer, it is a DSP radio. Also, it was advertised by the seller on eBay (bigbargainonline) as such. The radio uses a rechargeable 3.7 V 800 mAh Li-ion battery and comes with a standard USB-A to Micro-B charging cable. It also comes with stereo in-the-ear earphones. The manual is in Chinese. According to the dimensions in the manual, the radio is 110 x 62 x 23 mm in size. The antenna extends straight out of the top of the radio and does not swivel. The tuning knob is a thumbwheel that is accessible from either the top of the radio or from the right side of the radio. The on/off switch is a three-position slide switch (OFF/MP3/RADIO). The sound is not as pleasant as the DE 321. Also, I noticed that the FM signal strength dropped significantly when I placed the DE 32 on the table by itself. When I picked the radio back up, the signal strength picked back up and this was on a local station. I have not tested the MP3 playback yet.